Reviews by bigfnjoe:

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"Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woodsAnd day by day the dead leaves fall and melt."

--William Allingham (Irish poet, 1824-1889)

Softly glowing orange and gold with an almost imperceptible hint of russet. The beer is lightly foggy and contains abundant bubbles. Although it doesn't happen often, this is one case in which generous carbonation in an American-brewed Belgian-style ale actually results in a Belgian-like crown of foam and an outstanding array of lace. Simply gorgeous.

Bonus points must be awarded when an autumn saison's nose actually evokes the season for which it was brewed. Like Fantome Automne (but not to the same extent) Fuego Del Otono does exactly that. That characteristic Jolly Pumpkin sour funkiness is easily noted, as is an intriguing melange of spices that I can only guess at.

Autumn Fire is good beer for several reasons. One of the major ones is that it isn't chock full of Brettanomyces, like so many of this brewery's ales. It's more of an accent, as it should be, rather than dominating any and all other flavors. Actually, I'm reminded of Fantome beer to some extent. That's high praise indeed.

The chestnuts might be imparting a chestnut-like flavor, but I can't appreciate it. Instead, we have a mixture of tart and bruised apples, a few shavings of lemon peel, a restrained amount of horse blanket funk and a stew of piquant spices that don't lend themselves to easy identification. In fact, I won't even guess. The important thing is that it all comes together to create a light, sassy, spunky saison that is disappearing remarkably quickly.

While my hopes for a Belgianesque mouthfeel have been dashed, all is far from lost. The best saisons deliver lightness, suppleness and a sparkly sort of energy that leads to a refreshing, quenching feel with each mouthful. We're close here. Really close.

Fuego Del Otono (Autumn Fire) is my second favorite Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales offering, after the fantastically delicious biere de garde, Oro De Calabaza. Regarding the rest of his creations, I'd like to see Mr. Jeffries go easier on the wild yeast, so his remarkable brewing talent can shine for all to taste. As it does here.

Like many other Jolly Pumpkin ales, this brew is full of flavor, juiciness, spiciness, lightly vineous, and with a decent dosage of funk--just enough to make things interesting. Starts with a strong, spicy aroma (nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger), quickly followed by a hearty, bready semi-sweet maltiness. A medium muskiness (not quite moldy) overcomes the sweetness, and takes on a solid vineous aroma. The look of the beer is a standard, agressively carbonated, well headed brew with loosely knit foamstand, Sprinkled with yeast and spices. The flavors take on the semi-sweet barley / bready flavors, but meld well with background tones of oak aged flavor, modest caramel and cashew (buttery, nutty) flavors. As the flavors subside, the vineous character rises nearly to wine-like proportions, stopping only for a tart, sharp, dry finish. Lingers with assertive spices, aged hops, and alcohol. There is very little that differentiates the quality of Jolly Pumpkin ales, but they are all amazing and full of art. Another well done brew.

Appearance: Pours a hazy light amber color with a sturdy head that leaves a lovely pattern of lace all over the glass

Smell: Well, of course there is the horseblanket, but beneath that I can pick up apples, chestnuts, lemon and, am I crazy, but I am smelling some marshmallows, too

Taste: For a second, there is a biscuity taste, but the sour element kicks in and dominates through mid-palate, with lemon and green apple aspects; after the swallow, the chestnut flavors make a subtle impact; I'm not sure what spices were used, maybe some coriander

A: The beer is clear yellowish amber in color and has a moderate to high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a two finger high white head that slowly died down but consistently left a thin head covering the surface and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.S: Light aromas of sourness are present in the nose along with some hints of spices.T: Similar to the smell, the taste has a little sourness and flavors of lemon citrus along with notes of oak and hints of chestnuts and nutmeg.M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and slightly tart on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.O: This beer is very drinkable because it's rather light-bodied on the palate and isn't that malty or sour. I would definitely consider trying this again.

Jolly Pumpkin has an excellent beer (biere de garde, Belgian gruit, spice ale, whatever you want to call it) with Fuego Del Otono. The Brettanomyces (and whatever other organisms contributed flavors) works well with the beer, lending its farmhouse-like flavors and tartness to the savory spices and malt body used in the mash. Complex from malt, spices, and yeasts, with a defining tartness and spiced-tart flavor, this is an excellent beer.

Pours a very tall head (>4cm) of foam, the bubbles very small and largely creating a heavy froth atop the body. Retention is excellent, the head lasting several minutes in the slow decline to a thick ring around the perimeter of the glass and a modest island of wisy foam atop the body. The lacing that is left is substantial, heavy, and intricate: clumps and spiderweb patterns adorn the insides of the glass. The body is a toasted orange on its own, light bringing out brighter shades of orange and hints of yellow. Carbonation is readily visible through the semi-transparent (40% opaque) body, plentiful, though not particularly vigorous.

Aroma is pleasantly tart, with hints of lemon juice, diluted apple cider vinegar, sweet sauerkraut, and nuances of musty and slightly composting hay as from Brettanomyces. Very faint toffee-like malt sweetness lingers in the background, perhaps an indication of the malt origins of the beer.

Front of palate picks up sweetish lemon citrus, herbs as from a gruit (bay leaf, spearmint, ginger, rosemary), and hints of oak. Mid-palate finds an increase in the acidity, bringing to mind lemon juice, diluted apple cider vinegar, some Brettanomyces-influenced tartness, mustiness, and composting hay, all atop a more mild background of oak tannins, the aforementioned herbs, and lightly sweet malts. Back of palate finds increased citric and vinegar-like tartness and Brettanomyces-influenced mustiness, with a diminished taste of herbs and a mild malt sweetness to slightly balance the mixture. Aftertaste of mild citic, vinegar-like, and Brettanomyces-influenced tartness with a faint hint of earlier-mentioned herbs and toffee-like malt sweetness.

Beer is medium-bodied, with carbonation of medium to medium-low intensity, resulting in a smooth, foamy mouthfeel that is never fizzy. Closes quite dry, with little residual stickiness remaining on the palate.

Thanks to Kevin for the bottle. Bottled 10/2011. It pours copper with some brighter orange hints at the edges. Pretty hazy and cloudy throughout the body and topped off with a quickly dissipating, slightly off-white head. Decent sheets of lacing are left at the top of the glass as the beer traverses down the glass.

Wonderfully funky and mildly tart is the aroma, complete with that signature "Jolly Pumpkin smell" that seems to be recognizable in nearly all of their beers. Bouts of wet hay, horseblanket, damp barnyard, and wet cork. Incredibly funky, yet mild enough to remain approachable. The funk is balanced nicely by some sharp and tart apple and even some cherry skins. Some light oak in the tail end brings everything together.

Great translation to the palate, and the first sip of Feugo del Otono is actually a bit more tart than I was expecting from the aroma. Solid tartness hits first with a handful of dirty, white grapes, apples, and light lemon zest. The light body is pumped with carbonation, giving a crisp and snappy mouth feel that really helps to bring out the subtle flavors.

The funk character carries through the profile heavily; musty wood, hay, barnyard, and a typically corky funk work in perfect amounts to balance and back up some of the brew's tartness. Oak character becomes more apparent with warming, especially in the finish where the oak really soaks up moisture from the palate and leaves a bone-dry finish.

Super, super drinkable. Even though it's only about 6% ABV to begin with, there's no touch of alcohol in the taste. Great balance of tart and funk - this beer is as easy drinking as it can get for the style. You could easily crush a 750 mL bottle of this on your own and probably move on to another one right after. Jolly Pumpkin continues to do what they do best.

A: It's like they captured the beginning of a sunset in a glass with is a glowing, hazy medium amber. The persistant, rocky white head settles to a half a finger and leaves thick lacing on the glass.

S: Brett wet horse blanket with moderate esters of orange and lemon peel with a bit of spiciness are the first things I smell. There is an obvious moderate sourness with a subtle, coriander like tart aroma. There almost seems to a be a bit of that pils malt aroma.

T: The flavors is dominated by fruit, sour and spicy. There is a moderately sharp sourness with an grapefruit and orange flavor. The spice is dominated by fermentation driven pepper but there are some other flavors going on giving a faint complexity to that aspect. There doesn't seem to be that much bitterness with the sour doing all the work making the balance sour and tart. The finish is very dry with linger light fruit flavors.

O: This is a bright, fruity beer with a touch of spice. The balance is great, being dominated by a refreshing sourness but yet so easy to drink. I'm sure the get the chestnuts in this beer but I wouldn't suggest changing anything about this beer as it is just fantastic. Batch 902 Bottled 10-21-2011

2007 vintage, thanks to nightbrew for bringing this one over. Deep amber color. The nose is similar in some ways to a Flemish; sour apple skin and funk for sure. The taste is a bit of a let down after the pungent nose, it's a little too subdued. Funky, slightly tart apple, maybe a hint of nuttiness amidst all the funk. The body is soft with a bit of sparkle. Overall, a pretty friggin' tangy beer. Sour fans unite.

What could be better than a new bottle of Jolly Pumpkin on a Sunday evening?? The Fuego Del Otono pours from the 750ml bottle a deep auburn hue with a nice two finger cap of fluffly white foam that has great staying power. Aromas of toasty, mildly bready malts swimming in a sea of spiciness. Cloves, cinammon, chestnut and pepper come to mind. Sour fruitiness in the background, apple specifically. The final waft is yeasty with a touch of wood. Good stuff, albiet a bit on the subtle side.

First sip brings a sour fruity flavor upfront that is quickly met by a mix of spices. Cloves, pepper, cinammon and more I can't pick out. A very mellow sweet caramel alongside a touch of yeastiness. Faint nuttiness comes in as the brew finishes off with a touch of dry woodiness. Overall, a tasty brew but it just doesn't have the complexity of some of the other JP brews.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side with plenty of fast moving bubbles that race across the tongue. Rather smooth and easy going, would make a good summer brew as well. An interesting brew to be had here, but not my favorite of the JP offerings. Still, I always seem to have an easy time downing these 750's and this one is no exception. Give it a try and decide for yourself! (Pairs well with some mild cheddar also.)

750ml bottle. Pours a hazy golden orange with a thin white head that quickly goes to a thin film and collar that leaves some lacing.

The aroma is doughy malts with tart, slightly sour, fruits and some spices.

The flavor is earthy yeast with some bready malts. It has some tart and slightly sour fruits, wood and some spices and a dry lightly bitter finish. It has a bit of a washed out and watery flavor. The mouthfeel is medium with lots of sharp carbonation.

Overall, it's a pretty typical JP brew, although not one of their better ones. I'd prefer more sourness and less watery flavors.

Poured into a Duvel chalice the body is a mostly clear amber with an enormous beige head that settles into a frothy meringue. Aroma is herbal, spicy and citrusy lemon. Some wild funky notes, as well. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a velvety carbonation and a sour herbal bite. Taste is quite saison like. Dry and herbal, with some floral hopping. Softly sweet malt notes add a richness. Citrusy orange and lemon add considerable depth. Another solid offering from Jolly Pumpkin.

Batch 336, bomber from DeCiccio's in Ardsley, NY. Pours cloudy, dull, dark brownish amber. The head is thick, medium khaki, the real story is the world class retention. The head stays and stays, then leaves a thick film, ring and gobs of nice looking lacing. The nose is spicy, earthy and infused with sour notes. Simply delicious brew, sour fruit, more earthyness, peppery spice, a waft of sweet malt. The finish continues the theme, sour, spice, earth, malt, pepper. Somehow it all comes together and works. Perhaps my favorite brew experience yet from JP

Bottling No. 3, 2007. Pours golden orange with a white head. Very clear. Aroma is some tart citrus as well as some light funk. Also some spices. Flavor is semi-tart with lots of citrus. Not very funky. Finishes very dry. High carbonation and drinkability.

Bright, glowing, slightly hazy golden orange with a small off-white head that leaves very small dots of stick down the glass.

Earthy and nutty aroma along with some hay, grass, and funky barnyard/horseblanket notes. Complex, evolving, and the best part of this beer.

The nutty character is stronger in the flavor than it is in the aroma, and it's quite dominant. I know this beer is brewed with chestnuts, and they really shine through here--though if I didn't know it was brewed with chestnuts, I'd say it tasted like almonds. There's a mild funk note rounding things out, though it's quite mellow.

Thin bodied with moderate carbonation.

A very interesting fall take on the style. Drinkable, but not in anything more than a small amount. I'd tire of it quickly.

Batch 625 Bottled 9/28/10 a half month past my birthday...looks brilliant with a nice copper pale malted hue with a bright off white head. Forms a fine even band of lacing that continues with each sip. Nose has hints of cider, coriander, and roasted chestnuts...what a wild ale. Sour ale to the max tastes like a layer of lactic yogurt and tree bark sour and bit all the same. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with higher carbonation not much going on but bone dry finish between the lactic bittrness and tree bark mainly oak ale aging. Drinkability overall is decent but overall it was a bit rough with bark/oak flavor, not much other than that.